ANALYSIS
Offensive lines, evolving defenses key for both teams

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

The best way to view tonight's football opponents is by examining their histories. Their X's and O's are explained in their DNA.

The offense employed by Hawai'i's June Jones, above, won't be a surprise for Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger, who saw versions it in Jones' NFL teams. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

"When I look at Florida Atlantic on tape, I see Miami's offense," UH coach June Jones said.

Miami Dolphins or Miami Hurricanes? "Both," Jones said.

Although Jones' four-wide, read-and-attack offense has evolved, Schnellenberger recognizes the same concepts that were used when Jones' schemes were known as the "Red Gun" with the Atlanta Falcons and "Silver Streak" with the Detroit Lions.

Here's a closer look at the teams:

Florida Atlantic offense

WR 17 Roosevelt Bynes 6-1 181 Sr.
LT 77 Dave Richards 6-3 271 Sr.
LG 72 Jarrid Smith 6-2 258 Fr.
C 70 Nello Faulk 6-6 264 So.
RG 68 Chris Shepherd 6-3 292 Sr.
RT 76 Kevin Fischer 6-5 259 Sr.
TE 84 Anthony Crissinger-Hill 6-3 205 Jr.
WR 9 Larry Taylor 5-9 170 Sr.
QB 12 Jared Allen 6-3 213 Sr.
FB 35 Aaron Sanchez 5-10 220 Jr.
HB 5 Doug Parker 5-11 217 Sr.

Outlook: Days after being fired as UTEP's head coach, Gary Nord received an offer to reunite with Schnellenberger. After working together at Louisville for eight years, "I knew this offense by heart," said Nord, who also is familiar with UH's schemes through past WAC meetings.

The Owls' offense employs two backs, usually aligned in an I-formation, two flankers, a fleet-cleated tight end and nimble offensive linemen. What makes this version successful is Allen's accuracy and Crissinger-Hill's quickness. Allen was widely ignored as a 175-pound Oklahoma high school senior. Since joining the Owls' inaugural recruiting class, he gained weight and honed his passing. "I had two older brothers who played quarterback (in college)," Allen said. "We threw all of our lives. Most of everything I learned was from them." Despite average quickness and arm strength, Allen is accurate in finding receivers off bootlegs and play-action moves.

Crissinger-Hill, a tight end with a sprinter's build, caught 74 passes last year, accounting for 29.7 percent of the Owls' receptions. He is comfortable aligning on either side, in the slot or wide. This summer, the Owls added a play in which Crissinger-Hill takes a handoff on a reverse.

When the Owls want to open the passing lanes, tight end Dantson Dareus replaces the fullback as the fourth receiver. Allen also turns to Pittsburgh transfer Bynes, whose 46 catches resulted in nine TDs. The sleeper is Thomas Parker, who fully recovered from injuries suffered when he was struck by a car while assisting a stranded motorist.

Uncertainty surrounds the reshaped offensive line, which was supposed to return every starter. But this summer, the Owls learned right tackle Kenneth Campos' eligibility clock already had expired and center George Guffey would require major knee surgery. Faulk moved from right tackle to center and Smith from center to left guard.

Florida Atlantic defense

LE 96 Johnnie Sloan 6-1 259 Sr.
LT 94 Teddy Strachan 6-2 264 Sr.
RT 92 Yrvens Guerrier 6-0 276 Sr.
RE 90 William Gray 6-4 230 Sr.
SLB 50 Tyrone Higgins 6-2 220 Sr.
MLB 59 Shomari Earls 6-4 250 Jr.
WLB 46 Chris Laskowski 5-10 218 Sr.
LCB 22 Lawrence Gordon 5-10 175 So.
SS 29 Jerrell Terry 5-11 203 Sr.
FS 25 Taheem Acevedo 6-1 201 So.
RCB 24 Willie Hughley 6-0 170 Jr.

Outlook: The Owls had hoped to attack the Warriors' run-and-shoot with a 4-3 alignment in which the cornerbacks play man-to-man coverage and the two safeties align in a two-deep zone. But with Sloan limited because of an ankle sprain, the Owls also will use a three-lineman formation. In that scheme, Sloan is replaced by nickelback Quincy Skinner, who will line up between the two safeties, in a deep zone.

Defensive end Ramon Rickards, who had five sacks last season, made the travel roster. During training camp, Rickards was demoted to the second team as a wake-up call. Instead, he quit. He was reinstated six days later, but was used sparingly. With Sloan ailing, Rickards' role might expand.

Florida Atlantic specialists

PK 38 Mark Myers 6-2 197 Sr.
P 18 Mike Brown 6-2 212 Jr.
KR/PR 4 Anthony Jackson 5-9 197 Sr.

Outlook: During the offseason it was discovered that punter Andy Rosas, who averaged 38.7 yards per game, had actually exhausted his eligibility at the end of last season. Brown, a walk-on, gets the first shot to replace Rosas. Brown had a 1-yard punt during the spring game.

Hawai'i offense

LWR 84 Jason Rivers 6-1 189 So.
LSB 2 Chad Owens 5-9 177 Sr.
LT 70 Tala Esera 6-3 291 So.
LG 64 Samson Satele 6-2 278 So.
C 59 Derek Faavi 6-0 271 Jr.
RG 69 Uriah Moenoa 6-2 327 Sr.
RT 66 Brandon Eaton 6-2 291 Jr.
RSB 7 Se'e Poumele 5-9 171 Sr.
RWR 9 Britton Komine 5-10 188 Sr.
QB 14 Tim Chang 6-1 200 Sr.
RB 6 Michael Brewster 5-5 185 Sr.

Outlook: Concerns about Chang's readiness were answered Tuesday, when he had one of his most accurate passing performances in more than 600 UH practices. To break Chang's rhythm, Jones employed a fear-factor drill, in which an unblocked pass-rusher was ordered to bear down on the fifth-year quarterback. "He had to stand in there, with someone in his face, and try to make a pass," Komine said. "He made great throws. How many people can do that? It takes a big man to stand there, with all of that pressure, and make the throw, and he did it over and over. I was looking at greatness that day."

Although the four receivers prefer passes aimed at their chin straps, "anything we can get a hand on is catchable," Owens said. "We're not going to be picky, because we know (Chang) has somebody in his face or he's getting pressured."

Of the Warriors' four running plays, one might go to Owens, off a slotback handoff. He inherits that play from Nate Ilaoa, who is injured and won't play.

UH made five changes to the offensive line last year before settling on this group, which remained intact throughout spring practice and training camp.

Hawai'i defense

LE 98 Melila Purcell 6-2 266 Jr.
LT 99 Lui Fuga 6-1 294 Sr.
RT 96 Matt Faga 6-2 324 Sr.
RE 30 Kila Kamakawiwo'ole 6-3 241 Jr.
SLB 5 Chad Kapanui 6-0 226 Sr.
MLB 51 Ikaika Curnan 5-10 221 Jr.
WLB 45 Tanuvasa Moe 5-11 210 Jr.
LCB 37 Abraham Elimimian 5-10 185 Sr.
SS 42 Leonard Peters 6-1 184 Jr.
FS 22 Lamar Broadway 5-11 175 Jr.
RCB 24 Kenny Patton 6-0 187 So.

Outlook: The best way to attack the Owls' timing offense is with a heated pass rush. Khevin Peoples and C.J. Allen-Jones — freshman linebackers with cornerback speed — would be perfect defenders, but they're at least six games away from being comfortable in the system. UH's best pass rusher, Purcell, will play, but he might not be at full speed because of a sprained left foot and sprained right ankle. The immediate solution is go to with five defensive backs, using nickelback Elimimian as a roving blitzer.

UH will alternate between a zone defense and assigning Elimimian or Kapanui to cover Crissinger-Hill.

Hawai'i specialists

PK 47 Justin Ayat 6-0 201 Sr.
KO 41 Tim Wright 6-4 210 So.
P 25 Kurt Milne 6-0 196 So.
KR/PR 2 Chad Owens 5-9 177 Sr.

Outlook: Although his groin injury has not healed completely, Ayat is expected to handle the placekicks. Owens will be the full-time kick/punt returner for the first time since 2001.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.